61. Angels

Sky.

✙ ☠ ✙

I'm actually mad now. After all the preparation, blood sweat and tears Aron wants to cancel the wedding? Seriously?

I run into his dressing room only to find him on the couch with his head in his hands.

"What the hell is your problem?" I say annoyed.

"You're not supposed to be in here."

"Well, the wedding is cancelled, right? So what does it matter?"

Aron just shakes his head.

"First you make a whole big deal about getting married, I ask you on multiple occasions if you're sure and now after all the hell you put Bobby through you decide you don't wanna marry me?!" I scream.

"Don't you get it? You don't wanna marry me! And I can't go through with this if you don't want it. It's fucking insane! I basically pressured you into all this even thought it's pretty fucking clear you don't want any of it!"

"I said yes, didn't I?"

"I didn't give you much of a choice." Aron mumbles.

"I had a whole year to think about it. Don't you think I would've said something if I really didn't want this?"

Aron shakes his head and shrugs.

"Aron, I do want to marry you." I sit next to him on the couch.

"Don't lie to me right now, Sky."

"I'm not lying." I grab Aron's hand.

He looks into my eyes. It seems he has been crying too. It's such a teary day today.

"You wanna know why?" I chuckle. "It's pretty selfish actually."

I kiss Aron's tear-stained cheek.

"I want you to be Rose's dad."

Aron frowns in confusion.

"Like, legally. I want her to call you dad. Because honestly, that's what you've been to her from the start. It would break my heart if she ever called you 'Aron'. I mean.. that's kind of why I named her Sofia in the first place... I guess I just always hoped you'd be a part of our lives somehow.."

He doesn't say anything, he's just lost in thought. Maybe I shouldn't have just sprung that on him like that.. Maybe he doesn't even want any of this.

"Or.. do you not want to—"

"No, I do!" Aron squeezes my hand.

He smirks. "I was just imagining what it would be like if she called me 'dad'."

A bright smile covers Aron's face.

"You don't think I'm caging you?" He asks softly.

"Caging me?" I laugh. "Where did you get that?"

He shrugs. "You gave off that impression."

"I'm sorry. I just never dreamt of getting married and I still very much see it as a piece of paper. But I can also see that being married to you is not a cage. It's a fucking privilege."

Aron starts to laugh.

It makes me so warm inside. I caress his cheek.

"I'm also kind of dying to call you husband," I kiss his cheeks. "And I'm very excited for our honeymoon." I smirk at Aron.

He smiles back at me.

I lean in, ready to kiss him on the lips but he pulls away.

"Not yet." He smiles.

"Save it for the altar."

× × ×

I'm not the least bit nervous as the music starts to play. It was one hell of a struggle to get here but that only makes things more special. Maybe the reason why bad things happen is to make us appreciate the good. Cause one thing is for sure, I feel like the luckiest man alive. I get to marry the person I love the most in front of all my friends and family who support us no matter what.

My mom gives me a smile and my shoulders a squeeze and we step onto the wedding aisle.

Chase is standing beside Aron at the altar and Harry is standing next to them, waiting for me.

It's absolutely ridiculous but I gasp when I see Aron standing there. He's dressed in a white suit with white shoes to match. He looks beautiful but mostly he looks happy and excited. I haven't seen him like this in days.

It makes me tear up. Already.

"Oh, fuck." I wipe my tears.

Everyone chuckles at that.

My mom walks me down the aisle.

I look around at all the smiling faces. I'm happy and relieved to see Anthony and Chase share a loving glance.

And then I look back at my almost-husband. He looks so proud as I get closer and closer to him.

We reach the front of the church. Mom gives me a kiss on the cheek and takes a seat next to Steven.

"Hi." I say to Aron when I stand across him.

"Hi." His eyes are sparkling.

Priest Nicholas meets our eyes. We both nod that we're ready.

"Ladies and gentleman," He begins.

"We are gathered here today to unite into holy matrimony Oliver Sky and Aron Santiago. I will open this ceremony with a prayer: Dear God. We want to thank you for bringing these fine gentlemen together. With what was a turbulent start these two have found their way to each other through true love and your guidance. Please continue to guide these men throughout their marriage and may your grace be with them. Amen."

"Amen." Everyone echoes.

"The husbands-to-be have prepared some words as well," The priest nods at me.

Great. I'm not very good at this stuff but I'll try my best.

"I never really believed in love. And still I have to pinch myself every day to make sure it's real."

Everyone laughs.

I blush at how cheesy that sounded.

"You're the first person I ever fell in love with. So um.. I'm gonna apologize in advance if I make you absolutely crazy sometimes."

Another chuckle from the crowd.

"It's only because I care about you."

Everyone watches me with anticipation.

"That's it." I chuckle awkwardly as I scratch my head.

Everyone laughs and now it's Aron's turn.

He's blushing by now.

Oh, I just want all this to be over so I can finally kiss him!

"I wanted today to be perfect. Cause I thought that if one little thing went wrong that would doom our marriage but..." Aron smiles.

"Perfect doesn't exist. But my life with you so far comes pretty close."

"Aww..!" Everyone goes.

I'm totally flustered. I can't even look at him anymore.

"I can't believe you just said that." I mumble.

"Shush, it's my turn now."

We hear distant laughter from the crowd.

"So, is this what it's gonna be like? Are you always gonna interrupt me, huh?" Aron teases.

"Alright, I'm sorry." I giggle as I look away from him and the whole group of people watching us.

It's quiet for while. I look back at Aron and he's just staring at me.

"What?" I chuckle nervously.

"Can I just kiss him already?" Aron asks the priest.

By now everyone in the audience is laughing too.

"Alright, let's move on to the vows. Oliver Sky, do you take Aron Santiago to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love and cherish him, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him for as long as you both shall be alive?"

"Yes— Oh, I mean, I do."

I'm embarrassing.

Aron chuckles at me. I'm gonna smack him for that later.

"And Aron Santiago, do you take Oliver Sky—"

"I do."

I cover my face and laugh along with everyone else.

Now it's time for the rings.

Chase holds a pillow with two rings out to us. He looks very happy.

I take Aron's ring and grab his hand. We share a shy glance. My hand is trembling as I put the ring on Aron's ring finger.

Aron takes my hand. He caresses it gently before putting the ring on my ring finger. This might just be the most intimate moment of my life. I thought it was just a stupid ring. An item, but it symbolizes us and that instantly makes it my most prized possession.

"Then by the authority vested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you married and what God hath joined together, let no man nor woman asunder." The pastor smiles at us. "You may kiss each other."

Finally.

Aron's hands cup my cheek and he strokes me gently before pressing his lips to mine.

I hear vague sounds of a crowd cheering but it's only in the background.

Butterflies rage through me and I don't feel anything other than love in this moment. I'm united as one with my favorite person in the world. It feels unreal but it's true.

We both pull away. Aron looks just as shocked as I am. How different it feels to be up here than to just think about it.

"Is this really happening?" I say, staring into his eyes.

He nods and he smiles, making me weaker than I already am.

"I feel like I'm gonna pass out." I chuckle.

Aron kisses me again.

"You're not helping!"

Aron laughs at me. I laugh too. I think this might just be the happiest day of my life.

× × ×

The reception is in full swing. Most people are dancing and drinking now.

It's night time and we're at a beach. There are beautiful lights over our heads, there's a dance-floor and live music.

"Are you happy?" Aron asks. He has Rose on his lap and the way he's holding her is like she's as much a part of him as she is of me and it makes me so happy.

"Yes. I couldn't be happier, Aron."

He kisses my cheek.

Then he laughs as he stares at the dance-floor. "Are you sure?" He nods at my mom.

I look in her direction and I notice she's slow dancing with Steven.

"What the fuck?" I get up. "Mom!" A smile as pure joy spreads across my face.

I go up to her.

"What is this? When did this happen?!"

"Well... It happened like a month or two ago." Steven laces fingers with my mom.

"How come no one told me about this!"

"Well, we were taking it slow." Steven says.

"I wanted us to figure out how we really felt about each other before we told you." Mom says.

"Well, have you?"

"Yes. A hundred times yes." Mom laughs. She hasn't laughed like that in months!

I look around the dance-floor at all the people I cherish and love. And they're all happy, finally.

Jimmy and Harry are dancing, Chase and Anthony are making out, Fawn and Heather are in deep conversation, Jennifer is embracing her wife and Loren and Charlie are stealing the show with their dance moves. All my old friends from high school are here too. Aron brought some college friends.

Everyone's here.

"Hey, husband." I hear Aron from behind me.

I feel tingles cover my skin.

I turn to him.

He laughs at my tomato head.

"Dance with me?"

Chase.

✙ ☠ ✙

The wedding is over and Aron and Sky are about to go on their honeymoon. We're all collected around a stunning white vintage car. Sky and Aron are hugging people goodbye and getting the best wishes from friends and family.

Sky looks so happy. It makes me feel calm. This year hasn't just been hard on me, it's been really hard on him too. I was afraid he might not get over what happened with his dad but right now he couldn't be happier. And I couldn't be happier. Even the road leading up to Aron and Sky's marriage I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it but much like Sky wants for me, I just want to see him smile. And there's no one that makes him smile like Aron. They're a perfect match.

I look at my hand in Anthony's and I can't help but think we're a perfect match too.

Anthony's eyes meet mine. "What are you grinning about?"

"Nothing." I say quickly.

× × ×

I lay in the grass in Anthony's backyard and soak up the sun. I'm not wearing a sweater. I'm wearing a T-Shirt. My scars in full view but it's okay because Anthony doesn't judge me. I'm not gonna lie, I've thought of cutting a lot these past few months since the wedding and I only relapsed once. I've been hanging out with Ant, writing in my journal, talking to Jen, talking to God and I've been writing the sappiest, cheesiest poems. But it makes me happy. And it gives me something to do and helps me release emotions without hurting myself.

Anthony and I have been going strong and something tells me we'll grow old together. Maybe Aron and Sky can be the best men at our wedding.

Everything fell into place. All the crying and the pain, the desperation and heartbreak... They were all necessary to get us here. I guess that's something that a human couldn't think of. Cause who would voluntarily put themself through so much pain? I guess that's why it's good to know someone's watching over me. Someone who can see the bigger picture. I thank God every day for the life I have. Never thought it'd be that way but here we are.

Anthony sits down in the grass beside me. He kisses my cheek.

"Where's your mind?"

"I was just thinking about everything that's happened up to this point. Do you think it's intentional or random? Lucky or chosen?"

"Lucky to be chosen?" Anthony giggles.

I chuckle. "Good answer."

"I think we won't know the answer to that until we get to heaven." Anthony grabs my hand.

"Do you think I'm going to heaven?" I ask.

"Where else would you go?"

I shrug. "You basically have to be a saint to go to heaven right? I'm definitely not a saint."

"I don't think you have to be a saint. I think you just have to do your best to be a good person. And you definitely are."

I look into Anthony's loving eyes.

"I'm no angel either but you still think I'm a good person, right?"

Without Anthony I may not have gotten out of the dark place I was in. It really seems everything worked out perfectly because he was there to guide me. I'm forever grateful.

I kiss his forehead tenderly.

"You're my angel."